However, they are not aggressive at all unless handled (this was true even though they had been disturbed by our mowers, who are trained to recognize dangerous insects).

So after researching them, we decided not to spray them or try to force them out with water, because Cornell says they are benign pollinators and recommends allowing them to stay. And many bees populations are already under stress.

Hopefully they will move on after the Spring nesting season but we wanted to let you know what they are, and why we chose to "let them be."